Improvement in line-fasteners



J.TH.OMAS.

LINMASTENER.

No.188,485. .Patented March 20,1877.

UNITED STATES JULIUS THOMAS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PATENT OFFICEJ |MPR OVEMENT IN LlNE-FASTENERS.

Specification forlning part of Letters Patent N o. I SSAS, dated March 20, 1877 application file'd To all whom t't may camera:

Be it known tha-t I, J ULIUs THOMAS, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain Improvements in Devices for Tightening Olothes-Lines, of which the following -is a Specification:

The accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this Specification, shows, in Figure 1, my improved device as applied to the line, and in Fig. 2 the interior of the device, like letters of reference indioating like parts in both the figures.

In said drawing, A represents the posts by whioh'the line B is supported, the latter running over small pulleys a, inserted in the posts. C is the case of thetightening device. It is preferably grooved along its upper edge, so the line may lie in the recess. This feature will be seen at c. One corner, d, projects over and an opening, d', through which one end of the line ispassed and knottedor otherwise secured against withdrawal. The other end of the line is passed down through the case O in such manner that it can be clamped between .the side 0 of the case and the serrated face of the eccentric c, which is inclosed by the case and pivoted at This eccentric is automatically forced into engagement with the line by 'a flat steel spring, i, one end of which is secured to the lower end of the eccen'- tric, and the other end is bent over and lies against the outside of the case. The spring January 24, 1877.

must be confined, of course, sufficiently to produce the required force upon the eccentric.

When it is desired to loosen the eccentric,

'back into the case, the effect of which is 'to release the line from the clamp, and it may then bc removed, loosened, or further tightened, as desired.

It will be observed that my device is applied directly to the line and moves with it, and is not connected with the post in any manner.

While my invention is' more especially designed to be applied to lines moving over pulleys, like that shown, yet it may also be used with stationary lines, as Will be obvious.

Having thus fully described my invention, what l claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The device for holding lines in a taut condition, consisting of a case, C, wherein one end of the line is secured, and through which the other end passes, the eccentric e, inclosed and pivoted in said case, and the spring for automatically Operating the clamp, Substantially as Specified.

. J ULIUS THOMAS. Witnesses:

EDW. S. EVARTS, J AM'ES S. MURRAY. 

